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Charismatic Practice

The rise of Evangelical and Pentecostal forms of religion — first in the United States, and in the last half century in Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia — is one of the most important religious, cultural and political shifts of the 20th century. Hundreds of millions of people now belong to Pentecostal churches, and hundreds of millions more worship in other churches that have adopted more Evangelical styles and beliefs. In many places, these forms of Christianity have become the primary religious competitors to Catholicism.

The story too little told, however, is the degree to which Catholic practice has been reshaped by Evangelical practice and belief in many parts of the world. That form of Catholic practice, known as Charismatic Catholicism, is characterized to varying degrees in different contexts by its strong appeal to emotion and personal witness, emphasis on Bible reading and personal relationship with Jesus, and worship that includes waving of hands and intense prayer, healing by laying on of hands. In more limited contexts, it is also associated with a Pentecostal tendency toward the “prosperity Gospel,” the belief that God rewards Christians with economic well being if they follow God’s path.

The popularity of Pentecostalism has not only caused an exodus of Catholics, but also reshaped Catholicism with the introduction of charismatic practice. Today, one half of Brazilian Catholics are charismatic.

Most Ethiopians interviewed in Addis Ababa seem to find charismatic religion to be a bit of a puzzle, given the much more restrained, quiet, and slow pace of worship in the Ge’ez rite in particular, and also in the Latin rite.

A number of charismatic Catholic groups meet in Hong Kong, including El Shaddai, a Philippines-based Catholic charismatic organization with a following in the millions. These groups fill an important role in the lives of the hundred or more women who show up for weekday Masses — often on the one day a week they have off.

As Pentecostalism spreads, Catholics on the island infuse more of their worship with spirit-filled styles. Meanwhile, a small but committed New Life Community also helps the spread of charismatic worship.

With nine to 11 million members, El Shaddai is undoubtedly the largest lay Catholic organization in the world. In its worship, theology, and aesthetic, El Shaddai often seems more like the Filipino version of an American Evangelical Protestant mega church, but the movement is linked to and approved by the Catholic Church.

Like at a European concert festival, music is a major attraction at the Csíksomlyó Youth Gathering. The young people in the crowd jump, dance, shout, and sing along to well-known Charismatic Catholic songs.

Catholic worship in Tanzania revolves around the Mass, and a Tanzanian Mass shares much of the ritual formality one would find in any part of the Catholic world. But African pride is also on display, with a jubilant choir, dancing children, and impeccable dress.